By Jessica Cox
Monrovia, Liberia — In a bold move to strengthen education planning and accountability, the Ministry of Education has initiated the 2025 National School Census, the first nationwide data-gathering initiative of its kind in over three years. The announcement was made during a regular briefing held by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT), where Deputy Minister for Planning, Research, and Development, Hon. Samuel Toe, emphasized the critical need for accurate data in reforming the education sector.
Over 200 trained enumerators have been dispatched across Liberia’s 16 education regions to gather current information from schools. This initiative, according to the Ministry, is essential to addressing long-standing gaps in educational data that have impeded effective planning, budgeting, and service delivery.
“This is not business as usual—it’s a statutory obligation outlined in Chapter 8 of the Education Reform Act of 2011. Non-compliance will lead to administrative actions,” Deputy Minister Toe stated.
The scope of the census includes key metrics such as enrollment rates, student attendance, completion rates, dropouts, academic performance, school fees, and incidents of gender-based violence. The data collected will directly inform national education budgeting for 2026, guide the deployment of STEM educators, and address pressing needs across various counties.
As of July 23, approximately 30% of institutions had submitted their data. Notably, Grand Gedeh and Grand Kru counties each reported 52% completion, followed by Bomi (51%), River Gee (44%), Maryland, and Gbarpolu (both at 43%). However, Montserrado Districts #1 and #2 showed lower engagement, with only 23% and 19% reporting, respectively, while Grand Cape Mount stood at just 18%.
Toe attributed the delays to logistical hurdles and difficult access to remote schools but said the situation is gradually improving as field agents adapt to the process and digital reporting tools.
For the first time, the census will also capture data from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, thanks to a partnership involving the Ministry of Youth and Sports, UNICEF, and several other stakeholders. More than 200 vocational institutions are included in this year’s survey.
To ensure consistency and accuracy in the data collection process, a compulsory workshop for TVET administrators from Montserrado County will be held on July 25 at G.W. Gibson High School.
Deputy Minister Toe also highlighted technological improvements, noting that real-time data upload to a central system now allows the Ministry to track, verify, and respond swiftly through an integrated dashboard. Devices such as tablets and laptops acquired through partner support before USAID’s exithave increased efficiency and improved data integrity.
“With real-time monitoring and faster processing, we’re on course to finalize a comprehensive report by August 31, meeting the expectations of our development partners,” he assured.
He cautioned that private and faith-based institutions that fail to comply with reporting requirements may face sanctions, including suspension of operational licenses and sectoral approvals.
Looking ahead, the Ministry intends to transition to a fully digitized, school-led reporting framework. Under this plan, institutions will be mandated to submit annual statistics online under a legal and regulatory system.
Toe expressed gratitude to key national and international partners, including UNICEF, the European Union, World Bank, UNESCO, Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Save the Children, and local civil society organizations. He also commended the Ministry’s Education Management Information System (EMIS) team, led by Mr. Emmanuel Tolo, and applauded Minister Jarbah for her strong leadership.
“This exercise goes beyond numbers—it’s about setting the foundation for long-term investment and transformation in our education system,” Toe said in closing.
